Curriculum & Activities
Winged Ambassadors:
Ocean Literacy through the Eyes of Albatross
Albatrosses, charismatic and threatened seabirds, are ambassadors for a clean ocean. They traverse
vast oceanic regions searching for floating food. Along their journeys, they ingest plastic trash
and are hooked in fisheries. These five lessons use inquiry-based science instruction, aligned to
standards for grades 6 – 8 with extensions for grades 9 – 12.
Lesson 1 –
Introduction to Seabirds
Lesson 2 –
Tracking Albatross Migrations
Lesson 3 –
Protecting Ocean Hotspots
Lesson 4 –
Bolus Analysis
Lesson 5 –
Campus Debris Survey
Students will:
- Use real data from current research tracking albatross migrations and ocean plastic pollution
- Be inspired by paintings and photographs from scientist and artist Sophie Webb
- Investigate albatross diets using detailed images of dissected boluses by National Geographic
photographer David Liittschwager
Each lesson includes:
- Lesson plan with learning objectives and procedures, an outline of necessary materials
and preparation, time estimates, suggested discussion questions and possible answers, ideas for
differentiating activities for diverse learners, and expanded resources, videos and links
- Student Worksheets and Handouts for photocopying and/or projecting
- Presentations with photos, art, wildlife research data, and teacher presentation notes
to support the lesson
Download the activity package for free at
www.downloadwingedambassadors.org.
This activity package was produced by Oikonos - Ecosystem Knowledge and Meghan Marerro in
collaboration with Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine
National Monument with funding from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Pacific Islands
region, and West Coast region.
Oceans for Life Lesson Plans and Videos
The Oceans for Life
lesson plans
and complementary
short videos
developed in partnership with National Geographic Society highlight cutting edge research,
environmental issues facing the ocean today and our National Marine Sanctuaries. Appropriate for grades 6-8.
Cordell Bank is featured in the Biodiversity lesson, which compares Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale
Sanctuary with Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
Cordell Bank:
Blue Water Oasis Film Viewing Guide and Activity
This
viewing guide/activity (444k pdf)
offers a few ways to watch the 15 minute film in your classroom and
follow up with further discussion (Grades 6-12). To watch the video online go to the
Video Gallery.
To request a free DVD, educators may contact
cordellbank@noaa.gov for a copy.
(please allow at least 7 days for delivery.)
Investigating a habitat by submersible
Grades 7-12
Students will view submersible footage and do a habitat characterization exercise for two different
habitats in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (soft bottom vs. rocky habitat). Students analyze
data by creating a simple graph of their results.
Activity Instructions
subactivity.pdf
Identification Guide
idguide.pdf
Training Slide Show
subslideshow.ppt (powerpoint version)
subslideshow.pdf (pdf version)
Slide show script
subslidewnotes.pdf
Videos to use with Activity
Benthic Activity Practice.mov (Practice Video)
Benthic Activity Rocky Reef.mov (Rocky Reef Video)
Benthic Activity Soft Bottom Habitat.mov (Soft Bottom Video)
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Teacher at Sea Curriculum Resources
After an immersive, hands on week at sea with the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and PRBO
Conservation Science teams, teachers create new activities to bring their experience into the
classroom. Check out their activities below.
Beth Lancaster - Teacher at Sea 2008
High School Biology Teacher, CT
With the use of videos and looking at real data, Students will investigate how oceanographic
processes influence the ecology of a California marine ecosystem.
Teaching Materials:
Download the Activity (708kb pdf)
Pre/Post text (96kb pdf)
Supporting Student Data Pages:
Bathmetry Student Data Sheet (92kb pdf)
Bird and Mammal Student Data Sheet (91kb pdf)
Zooplankton Student Data Sheet (107kb pdf)
Physical Oceanography Student Data Sheet (545kb pdf)
Videos
to go with this activity are in the
Cordell Bank Video Library
Seafloor Habitat Comparison Activity
"Every Square Inch Counts"
Every Square Inch Counts is an activity that compares the rocky intertidal habitats of Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to the subtidal benthic habitat in Cordell Bank National Marine
Sanctuary. Download the Activity and supporting materials below:
Activity outline: Every Square Inch Counts (28KB PDF)
Intertidal ID Cards (480KB PDF)
Rocky Intertidal Data Sheet and Answers (36KB PDF)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 1 (216KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 2 (380KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 3 (368KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 4 (316KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 5 (368KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 6 (332KB JPG)
Subtidal ID Cards (3.5MB PDF)
Subtidal photo data sheet/answer guide (68KB PDF)
Subtidal photo A 8.5x14in (1.5MB PDF)
Subtidal photo B 8.5x14in (1.1MB PDF)
Subtidal photo C 8.5x14in (1.1MB PDF)
Subtidal photo D 8.5x14in (676KB PDF)
Introductory Powerpoint Presentation in original format (12.7Mb PPT)
Introductory Powerpoint Presentation in PDF format (10.1Mb PDF)
Powerpoint script (42k PDF)
Each One Teach One
Learning about the National Marine Sanctuaries
This activity turns the students into teachers of each other and utilizes the National Marine
Sanctuaries as the subject material.
Download the Activity
here:
(88 kb PDF)
Download the Sanctuary Cards by clicking the links below:
Channel Islands NMS (2MB PDF)
Cordell Bank NMS (1.9MB PDF)
Fagatele Bay NMS (2.2MB PDF)
Florida Keys NMS (2.2MB PDF)
Flower Garden Banks NMS (2.3MB PDF)
Gray's Reef NMS (1.8MB PDF)
Gulf of the Farallones NMS (2.1MB PDF)
Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale NMS (1.9MB PDF)
Monitor NMS (1.8MB PDF)
Monterey Bay NMS (1.8MB PDF)
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument (644KB PDF)
Olympic Coast NMS (2MB PDF)
Stellwagen Bank NMS (1.9MB PDF)
Thunder Bay NMS (1.7MB PDF)
